WTF-InTunisiathelawsaysfemalescanonlyinheritHALFofwhatmalesget

Women’s rights activists in Tunisia led an historic march on Saturday, March 10th to demand equal inheritance rights for both sexes in the North African country.

Like other Arab countries, Tunisia’s inheritance law is based on Islamic jurisprudence, and specifies that female heirs must receive only half the amount that males are entitled to.

Suad Abu-Dayyeh, from women’s rights organisation Equality Now, explains: “The Qur'an states that daughters in the Islamic world inherit half the shares of sons.”

“This has made discussions about the introduction of equal inheritance rights a highly sensitive topic across the Arab world, with conservatives and some Muslim clerics arguing that it is contrary to Islamic teachings and a threat to the patriarchal structure of society.”

Habib Bourguiba, Tunisia’s first President post-independence, banned polygamy but met with religious opposition when he tried to introduce inheritance equality in the 1970’s.

In August 2017, Tunisia’s secular President Beji Caid Essebsi made a speech advocating for equality in inheritance and called for the introduction of legislation granting equal inheritance rights to women. The President announced the establishment of a committee to examine "individual liberties" and "equality in all domains", and a report is due to be released in May which is expected to include recommendations on the reform of inheritance laws.

President Essebsi’s comments have been opposed by conservative Muslim clerics who have released a statement arguing the proposals amounted to "a flagrant violation" of Islamic precepts.

Women's rights groups in Tunisia have been campaigning for the reform of inheritance rights for years, arguing it is a significant barrier for women, reduces their economic autonomy, and contradicts international human’s rights conventions by discriminating on the basis of gender.

It also contradicts the 2014 Tunisian constitution which stipulates full equality between men and women. The constitution was introduced following the popular uprising of 2011 that led to the overthrow of the country’s autocratic leader President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

The march, which took place in the capital city Tunis, is being seen as an important demonstration of support for President Essebsi’s initiative. The event was arranged by a coalition of women’s rights groups to commemorate International Women’s Day. Organisers estimate that at least 2000 people attended, with demonstrators chanting the slogan, “Equality, a right, not a privilege/ المساواة حق موش مزية”.

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Abu-Dayyeh, who was at the march, said: “There was a fantastic mix of women and men, the young and the old, listening to one another, celebrating achievements and calling for greater gender equality.”

“It was inspiring to see thousands together on Tunisia’s streets sending a clear message that equal inheritance rights for women are not a privilege, they are a human right.”

Birthplace of the ‘Arab Spring’, Tunisia is seen as forging the way for women's emancipation in the Arab world with various significant legal gains bringing greater gender equality, although widespread discrimination still remains.

Following on in September, Tunisia announced the abolition of a law banning women from marrying non-Muslims, with the BBC reporting that a spokeswoman for President Essebsi congratulated women on gaining "the freedom to choose one's spouse". Previously, a non-Muslim man had to convert to Islam and provide a certificate verifying his conversation before he was allowed to marry a Tunisian Muslim woman.

“This march calling for equality inheritance rights marks an historic moment in the women’s rights movement in the region, with Tunisia once again leading the way. I think we will see the ripple effects being felt elsewhere, with women feeling encouraged to begin challenging unjust inheritance rights in their own countries”, concludes Abu-Dayyeh.

Equality Now was founded in 1992 with the mission of using legal advocacy to protect and promote the human rights of women and girls. For more than 25 years, we have been using the law to create a just world for women and girls.
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I have lots of "what ifs". Mainly because it's symptomatic of my mental condition I've thought about and considered most junctures in my life in the sense of "What if I opened door A rather than B." but for the most part I've concluded that if I didn't go that way and become alienated from the kind of environment and rules I grew up in, I wouldn't have been allowed to be my freest self.

Some of my "What ifs" include:

> What if I never left home at 13?> What if I never met or got with my first boyfriend?> What if I never left school before I did any exams?> What if I never left my first boyfriend at 18 and moved into a hostel?> What if I never lost my first job?> What if I never tried to take my own life?

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I would avoid talking to negative people about love issues if you want to hear positive or neutral words, since ultimately you know that the sentiments they will provide will be negative! Unless that's what you want to hear. Over time, I've learned that everyone thinks they have good intentions, but if they generally express themselves negatively, then that is what you are going to hear and will have to accept -- so best to avoid it if you don't want this!